Extreme broncs, extreme generosity

The 2022 Extreme Bares and Broncs PRCA Rodeo, hosted by Montana State University-Northern rodeo teams and booster club, is in the books, and head coach Doug Kallenberger is pleased about the event and the support for his team, especially for the help given one team member injured over the weekend.

The event, which was Friday and Saturday at the Bigger Better Barn, is one of the teams' major fundraisers for the year, coming just before they start the spring half of their rodeo season. The turnout was great, Kallenberger said, and after missing 2021 due to COVID-19, it felt like they were back on track.

"It was a great weekend," he added, "highly successful."

As a Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association-sanctioned event, the money won by the bareback and saddle bronc riders who competed will count toward their PRCA world standings year end total to qualify for the PRCA National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas this December.

"So that's what was really neat about it, too," he said, "is that we are now part of the world standings right here in Havre, Montana."

Several of the top PRCA bareback and saddle bronc riders were among the competitors at the rodeo, as was former Northern Rodeo team member Kolby Kittson from Browning, who got bucked off before making his 8-second ride.

And 10 of the bucking horses provided by stock contractor J Bar J Rodeo Company were at the 2021 NFR, Kallenberger added.

The rodeo booster club had held Bulldazzle, an open rodeo featuring only bull riding, for several years, Kallenberger said, but then Mark "Sparky" Dreesen of J Bar J approached them about doing a PRCA-sanctioned bareback and saddle bronc rodeo as the teams' major spring fundraiser. That was four years ago, and they've been bringing in some of the top PRCA rough stock riders and broncs since then.

"Bulldazzle was a great, widely successful event too," Kallenberger said. "It was just an open bull riding and we thought, 'Hey, why don't we take a little time and showcase the other extreme sports of rodeo' ... and away we went."

As an added and unique promotion this year, saddle bronc rider Lefty Holman, currently among PRCA's top 15, and NFR bucking horse Straight Jacket both made an appearance at North 40 Outfitters in Havre for three hours Saturday.

"All that credit needs to be given to, number one, Sparky Dreesen with J Bar J pro rodeo, Lefty Holman for jumping in and saying 'Yeah, I will fly in early and I will be there, and I will take my day signing autographs for everybody and hanging out,' and, of course, to the manager of North 40 Justin Simenson. All three of those individuals just came together and said 'Hey, we're going to make this work and we're going to promote your event,' and what a neat thing," Kallenberger said. "Y'know, I don't think I've ever seen anything like that, ever."

Holman scored 84 points riding Straight Jacket later that night, tying for first place with Sage Newman, who is currently number one in the PRCA saddle bronc standings.

The rodeo also included other events like a calcutta, team calf dressing and kids sheep riding both nights.

While the rodeo is a fundraiser for the whole team, Saturday included an added auction to help with medical expenses for Northern Rodeo team member Chance Story, a freshman from Martinsdale whom Kallenberger described as "a great young man that was having a breakout season ... kind of our little stud all-around cowboy."

Story - who is at the top of the collegiate Big Sky Region standings in steer wrestling and was sitting good on points in team roping and tie-down roping - was kicked by a horse Friday evening, Kallenberger said, sustaining significant bone damage to his face and skull. He was transported that night to Benefis in Great Falls where he underwent a 4½ hour surgery Saturday and is starting his recovery.

Though doctors said they expect a full recovery and talked about him returning to the team, Kallenberger added, Story will face more reconstructive surgery and months of recovery.

Kallenberger said he and his wife Emily, who is the assistant coach of the team, drove to Great Falls Friday night to be with Story and his family until midday Saturday. On the trip home to see to their responsibilities with the second night of rodeo, he said, they brainstormed ideas to help raise money for Story's medical expenses.

As a quick jumpstart on the fundraising Emily Kallenberger baked two June berry pies to be auctioned off that night at the rodeo.

"We were just hoping for something small, and it turned into something not so small," Doug Kallenberger said.

The pies were auctioned off and then donated back for subsequent rounds of bidding, he said, and in the end the two pies brought in a total of $10,000 for Story.

"Those two pies," Kallenberger said. "The community of Havre and the Hi-Line is just a great place and a great home, and for them to donate $10,000 to Chance was, y'know, you just can't - it just warms your heart to live here and be here and be a part of our community. It's just amazing. We just can't thank the community enough for everything they've done."

Montana State University-Northern PRCA Extreme Bares and Broncs

Bareback riding: 1. Ty Breuer, 86.5 points on J Bar J's Drunk Bunny, $3,722; 2. Clay Jorgenson, 86, $2,854; 3. Tanner Aus, 85, $2,109; 4. Dantan Bertsch, 83, $1,365; 5. (tie) Caleb Bennett and Morgan Wilde, 82.5, $744 each; 7. Bodee Lammers, 82, $496; 8. Seth Hardwick, 81, $372.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Lefty Marvel Holman, on J Bar J's Straight Jacket, and Sage Newman, on J Bar J's Delta Night, 84 points, $3,587 each; 3. Tanner Butner, 80, $2,301; 4. Lucas Macza, 77, $1,489; 5. Cash Wilson, 76, $948; 6. Damian Brennan, 75.5, $677; 7. (tie) Kole Ashbacher, Josh Davison, Kolby Wanchuk and Jake Watson, 75, $237 each.

Total payoff: $25,944.

Stock contractors: J Bar J and Muddy Creek Pro Rodeo. Rodeo secretary: Marlene Dreesen. Timer: Jan Marshall. Announcer: Barney Sheridan. Flankmen: Chancy Wilson and Sparky Dreesen. Pickup men: Ben Wrzesinski and Brad Marshall. Music director: Tara Sheridan.